I am writing to request your personal advocacy of Department of State case #: OCS 2011 319 2852 in support of H.R. 1940.

As of this writing, there have been four abductions from the northeastern region of the U.S. to Tunisia, the last three having occurred within the past four months, all from the DC/MD/VA region. There is reason to believe an additional abduction is pending, though no further information regarding this abduction is known (the State Department and FBI have been made aware of this).

On November 11, 2011, Faical Chebbi – a dual citizen of Tunisia and the United States of America – departed the U.S. with Eslam (5) and Zainab (3), declaring never to return them home. At present, I, Édeanna M. Chebbi, am in Tunisia fighting for the right to bring my children back to their home in the U.S.

I was granted sole physical and legal custody of my children by the consent of my ex-husband over a year ago. I fought for two years in the U.S. to ensure that my children and I would not be re-victimized by the domestic violence that necessitated our divorce. We are now suffering this re-victimization in Tunisia at the hands of a man who is unquestionably a criminal.

In the summer of 2011 when Faical applied for and obtained Tunisian birth certificates and passports for Eslam and Zainab, he did so as a U.S. citizen bound by U.S. law, for two U.S. citizens whom he had relinquished any right of legal authority over. Eslam and Zainab have always been U.S. citizens and their receiving Tunisian citizenship was illegal.

In addition to Faical’s personal confession for the criminal act of international child abduction (on file with the U.S. consulate, Tunis, Tunisia), the following facts would easily support senior U.S. officials in intervening with Tunisian authorities on our behalf – particularly in obtaining cooperation through Interpol for the children’s return:

On July 16, 2010, the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County, Maryland issued a court order preventing either parent from removing Eslam and Zainab from the United States. On November 17, 2011, the same court issued an order demanding the children be returned to Édeanna Chebbi utilizing all means of reasonable and necessary force. On November 18, 2011, Virginia State Police issued 2 warrants for Faical Chebbi for the criminal act of child abduction. On December 19, 2011, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a federal warrant for the arrest of Faical Chebbi for the act of international kidnapping. Finally, on January 4, 2012, The United States Attorney’s office issued a Prosecutor’s Agreement to Extradite for Faical Chebbi in upholding the federal warrant.

Each of these documents is incorporated in the aforementioned U.S. Department of State case file. Additionally, the Tunisian Interpol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of the Interior have received copies of Interpol yellow alerts for missing children, Eslam and Zainab Chebbi. The whereabouts of both children is well known, and Interpol has been notified of the address of their detention in Tunisia.

Congressman Smith, I request that you highlight these Tunisian abductions as an issue of grave concern at the Congressional hearing on March 27, 2012. I particularly request any and all emphasis be placed on the need for diplomatic and Congressional action in advocating for the return of Eslam and Zainab Chebbi. Tunisia stands to receive a significant financial contribution from the U.S. in its efforts to democratize following the Jasmine Revolution. It is inconceivable as a U.S. citizen that our country would support these efforts while ignoring their harboring of innocent American children.

On 11-11-11, Faical Chebbi, the children’s father departed the U.S. with the children. Their mother, Édeanna Chebbi, is now in Tunisia fighting to bring them home.

Édeanna was granted sole physical and legal custody of her children over a year ago. Faical’s confession for the act of kidnapping is on file with the U.S. consulate in Tunisia. Also, on 7-16-10, a circuit court of Maryland issued an order preventing either parent from removing the children from the U.S. On 11-17-11, the same court issued an order demanding the children be returned to Édeanna by all means of reasonable and necessary force. On 11-18-11, Virginia State Police issued 2 warrants for Faical for child abduction. On 12- 19-11, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a federal warrant for Faical for kidnapping. Finally, on 1- 4-12, the U.S. Attorney’s Office issued a Prosecutor’s Agreement to Extradite with an Interpol red alert for Faical, upholding the warrant.

Please help bring these babies home!

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In addition to electronic delivery, you are welcome to send a signed letter to the address indicated on each letter.

Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
US Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

March 10, 2012

Dear Secretary Clinton:

I am writing in reference to DOS case #: OCS 2011 319 2852 regarding the international child abduction of Eslam and Zainab Chebbi.

I am asking for your personal advocacy on behalf of Eslam and Zainab Chebbi to the Tunisian government. I request that you utilize the personal confession of Faical Chebbi for the criminal act of international child abduction (on file with the U.S. consulate, Tunis, Tunisia) to advocate for the return of Eslam and Zainab to the U.S. The Tunisian Interpol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of the Interior, have all received copies of the Interpol red alerts for the detention and extradition of Faical Chebbi for the criminal act of international child abduction.

Please recall that Eslam and Zainab have always been U.S. citizens and that their receiving Tunisian birth certificates and passports were both crimes against United States law. At the time that Faical Chebbi applied for and obtained these documents, he did so as a U.S. citizen bound by U.S. law, for two U.S. citizens whom he had relinquished any right to legal authority over.

On July 16, 2010, the Circuit Court of Maryland in Prince George’s County issued a court order preventing either parent from removing either child from the United States. On November 17, 2011, the same court issued an order demanding the return of Eslam and Zainab Chebbi to Édeanna Chebbi utilizing all means of reasonable and necessary force. On November 18, 2011, Virginia State Police issued 2 warrants for Faical Chebbi for the criminal act of child abduction. On December 19, 2011, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a federal warrant for the arrest of Faical Chebbi for the act of international kidnapping. Finally, on January 4, 2012, The United States Attorney’s office issued a Prosecutor’s Agreement to Extradite with an Interpol red alert for Faical Chebbi in upholding the federal warrant. Each of these documents is incorporated in the case file in your department’s Office of Children’s Issues.

Eslam and Zainab Chebbi have been away from their home against their will and the will of their mother – their sole legal guardian – for far too long. If these were your grandchildren, how long would be long enough?

The body of evidence available for your advocacy on the behalf of Eslam and Zainab is clear and strong. Please act with urgency to request their expeditious return to the United States.

On November 11, 2011, Faical Chebbi, the children’s father – a dual citizen of Tunisia and the United States of America – departed the U.S. with Eslam and Zainab, declaring never to return them home. At present, their mother, Édeanna M. Chebbi, is in Tunisia fighting for the right to bring her children back to their home in the U.S.

Édeanna was granted sole physical and legal custody of her children by the consent of her ex-husband over a year ago. She fought for two years in the U.S. to ensure that she and her children would not be re-victimized by the domestic violence that necessitated their divorce. They are now suffering this re-victimization in Tunisia at the hands of a man who is unquestionably a criminal.

In the summer of 2011 when Faical applied for and obtained Tunisian birth certificates and passports for Eslam and Zainab, he did so as a U.S. citizen bound by U.S. law, for two U.S. citizens whom he had relinquished any right of legal authority over. Eslam and Zainab have always been U.S. citizens and their receiving Tunisian citizenship was illegal.

In addition to Faical’s personal confession for the criminal act of international child abduction (on file with the U.S. consulate, Tunis, Tunisia), the following details will strengthen an argument for the return of these children:

On July 16, 2010, the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County, Maryland issued a court order preventing either parent from removing Eslam and Zainab from the United States. On November 17, 2011, the same court issued an order demanding the children be returned to Édeanna Chebbi utilizing all means of reasonable and necessary force. On November 18, 2011, Virginia State Police issued 2 warrants for Faical Chebbi for the criminal act of child abduction. On December 19, 2011, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a federal warrant for the arrest of Faical Chebbi for the act of international kidnapping. Finally, on January 4, 2012, The United States Attorney’s office issued a Prosecutor’s Agreement to Extradite with an Interpol red alert for Faical Chebbi in upholding the federal warrant.

Each of these documents is incorporated in the aforementioned U.S. Department of State case file. Additionally, the Tunisian Interpol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of the Interior have received copies of the Interpol alerts.

Mr. Carter, please help, and act with urgency, to advocate for the expeditious return of these children.

On November 11, 2011, Faical Chebbi, the children’s father – a dual citizen of Tunisia and the United States of America – departed the U.S. with Eslam and Zainab, declaring never to return them home. At present, their mother, Édeanna M. Chebbi, is in Tunisia fighting for the right to bring her children back to their home in the U.S.

Édeanna was granted sole physical and legal custody of her children by the consent of her ex-husband over a year ago. She fought for two years in the U.S. to ensure that she and her children would not be re-victimized by the domestic violence that necessitated her divorce. They are now suffering this re-victimization in Tunisia at the hands of a man who is unquestionably a criminal.

In the summer of 2011 when Faical Chebbi applied for and obtained Tunisian birth certificates and passports for Eslam and Zainab, he did so as a U.S. citizen bound by U.S. law, for two U.S. citizens whom he had relinquished any right of legal authority over. Eslam and Zainab have always been U.S. citizens and their receiving Tunisian citizenship was illegal.

In addition to Faical’s personal confession for the criminal act of international child abduction (on file with the U.S. consulate, Tunis, Tunisia), the following details will strengthen an argument for the return of these children:

On July 16, 2010, the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County, Maryland issued a court order preventing either parent from removing Eslam and Zainab from the United States. On November 17, 2011, the same court issued an order demanding the children be returned to Édeanna Chebbi utilizing all means of reasonable and necessary force. On November 18, 2011, Virginia State Police issued 2 warrants for Faical Chebbi for the criminal act of child abduction. On December 19, 2011, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a federal warrant for the arrest of Faical Chebbi for the act of international kidnapping. Finally, on January 4, 2012, The United States Attorney’s office issued a Prosecutor’s Agreement to Extradite with an Interpol red alert for Faical Chebbi in upholding the federal warrant.

Each of these documents is incorporated in the aforementioned U.S. Department of State case file. Additionally, the Tunisian Interpol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of the Interior have received copies of the Interpol alerts.

Mr. Clinton, please help, and act with urgency, to advocate for the expeditious return of these children.